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  You might know a friend or family member who has one. Geothermal units are quickly gaining in popularity thanks to several advantages. Here’s a look at their appeal and why you might want to consider making this investment that will serve your family for years to come.   Efficiency Geothermal units are known to be efficient. That’s because they use the ground beneath your house as a place to store and release energy using underground pipes that are filled with water or antifreeze. These pipes are attached to a geothermal heat pump that’s associated with both heating and cooling. In [...]

10 Things Your Plumber Wants You To Know We see the good, the bad and the ugly every day, on the job. Sometimes homeowners do things that work against them and can result in a costly yet avoidable bill. Today we want to discuss some of the missteps so you can learn from others' mistakes. The hope is that you can be proactive and avoid a headache. Here are some of the most common problems our plumbers encounter in the field so you can avoid these bad habits.   1. Flushing “flushable” wipes and other materials. Although the name suggests otherwise, [...]

8 Reasons Why You Should Consider a Smart Thermostat   Though the groundhog saw his shadow and it means 6 more weeks of winter, that doesn’t mean you can’t plan for summer. Warmer days will be here before we know it and when they arrive, you want to be ready.   One thing you might not have considered is your thermostat. Keeping your home comfortable without racking up the expensive energy costs that can come with running your AC all day is the goal.   What is a smart thermostat?   Enter a smart thermostat (also known as a Wi-Fi thermostat). [...]

  The Midwest is known to serve up some harsh winters. When it’s subzero outside, our homes reflect that chill. Still, it can feel like a task to keep our common areas cozy without having to spend a small fortune on a heating bill. We’re here to tell you that you don’t have to choose one over the other. It’s possible to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature without having to take out a second mortgage for your heating bill. That said, we’ve gathered some frequently asked questions about heating your home on a budget and we address them below: Q: How [...]

Is Duct Sealing Right for Your Home? Despite improvements in efficiency, the average Northeast Indiana area home loses a significant amount of heating and cooling energy way of leaks in the duct system. If not addressed, you can face issues like HVAC inefficiency, energy waste, discomfort, and other concerns in the home. However, preventive measures can help you evade such scenarios. For instance, duct sealing is a viable option for homeowners looking to take corrective measures that can save them money— and frustration — in the end. Understanding Duct Leaks When your home’s HVAC system cycles, warmed or cooled air is [...]

  It might seem like an afterthought at times, but the furnace filter is an important component of your HVAC system. Are you treating it as such? Perhaps you don’t know what you don’t know. Admittedly, it can be confusing, as there are a variety of sizes and options available on the market. It makes sense as a homeowner that you might have a question or two about furnace filters. Don’t worry, we’ve done our best to distill this information into easily digestible content. This guide will help you understand furnace filters, how they function, and how to choose the best [...]

Health and wellbeing are top of mind for many families, with COVID-19 being at the forefront of our lives over the last year and a half. What you might be surprised to learn is that prevention can start at home, to some extent. The last three words of that sentence are of critical importance. Air purifiers, though not panaceas, can serve as one line of defense against viruses and infection. To understand if and how you’re protected, let’s dive into the science. How an air purifier filter works Mechanical air purifiers work because filters trap particles with a mesh filter typically [...]

  An Unseen Threat: How Leaky Ducts Can Cost You Although unseen, ductwork is fundamental to heating and cooling systems. These passageways are necessary in homes with any type of forced-air heating or central air conditioning. Because they’re out of sight (and out of mind), you might not think too much about their role and efficiency. Yet according to Energy Star, up to a third of the air that moves through ducts could be lost to leaks, improperly sealed joints, or a lack of insulation. Yikes! The result can be higher energy bills and can even cancel out the savings you [...]

  Your Most Pressing Plumbing Questions Answered As a homeowner, you might know enough about plumbing to be dangerous. Or maybe you admit complete ignorance on this front. That’s ok — we don’t expect you to be an expert in the trades. That’s why we’re here, to help guide and educate you on all matters plumbing related. That said, we wanted to share a few of the most-frequently questions we encounter, to save you time and frustration. (Google isn’t always the most reliable source.) Q: I think we have a leak. What’s the best way to confirm an issue, and how [...]

It’s no secret that the Midwest is known for humid summer days. That’s not always good news when it comes to indoor comfort. That’s because your AC unit will have to work overtime to get your humidity to a more reasonable range, which is considered to be around 30% to 50%. There are health implications, too. Beyond feeling icky, high humidity can make you sick. This excess moisture in the air provides a perfect breeding ground for microbes. It can also cause damage to wood, paper, fabrics, and major mechanical systems like your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, or even the [...]